City Departments

SUBJECT: Holmes asks state to consider more marijuana licenses for Seattle

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
10/4/2013 10:00:00 AM

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kimberly Mills (206) 684-8602

Concerned that there be enough licensed marijuana dispensers to meet demand in Seattle, City Attorney Pete Holmes has asked the Washington State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB) to consider increasing the number of licenses.

In an Oct. 3 letter to WSLCB, Holmes said, “We ask that the Board carefully monitor supply and demand for recreational marijuana as soon as the licensed dispensers begin sales and consider issuing additional licenses later in 2014 for dispensers in Seattle if the 21 initial licenses are insufficient to meet demand in our city.”

The concern is, Holmes explained, “that the illegal market will fill in the gaps and defeat the purposes of establishing a taxed and regulated recreational marijuana market.”

Holmes was a prime sponsor of Initiative 502, which voters approved in November 2012 to legalize, regulate and tax marijuana. In June, on behalf of the City, Holmes submitted comments to the WSLCB’s proposed rules for implementing the initiative. In his letter this week, he said he appreciated “the thorough and thoughtful approach the Board” took in its early stages of implementing I-502.